Catalpa ovata, the Yellow Catalpa[1][5] or Chinese Catalpa[1] (Chinese: 梓; pinyin: zǐ), is a pod-bearing tree native to China. Compared next to C. speciosa, it is much smaller, typically reaching heights of between 20 and 30 feet. The inflorescences form 4—10 inch-long bunches of creamy white flowers with distinctly yellow tinging; individual flowers are about 1 inch wide. They bloom in July and August.[5] The leaves are very similar in shape to those of Paulownia tomentosa, having three lobes (two are abruptly truncated on either edge, with a third, central, slightly acute, pointed lobe forming the leaf apex), and are darkly green.[5][6] Fruits are very narrow, foot-long pods.[5]

Although native to the more temperate provinces within China (Anhui, Gansu, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Hubei, Jiangsu, Jilin, Liaoning, Nei Monggol, Ningxia, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, Xinjiang),[1] C. ovata is also cultivated in North America and Europe.[1][5] It is commonly used to make the undersides of qin.[7]